Rail-joint.



G. J. LEUVBLINK.

RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 4, 1913.

Patented Mar. 11, 1913.

. IIWEIVTOR,

WITNESSES momma UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GERRIT J. LEUVELINK, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY.

RAIL-JOINT.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Gnmur J. LEUVELINK, asubject of the Queen of the Netherlands, residing at Paterson, in thecounty of Passaic and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Rail-Joints, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention consists in an improved construction of rail jointwhereby the meeting ends of the rails, by a simple expedient not addingto the cost of manufacture, are held positively in true alinement witheach other notwithstanding influences tending to produce relative up anddown or sidewise movements of the meeting ends of the rails; by myinvention the further advantage is obtained that any rail, withoutdisturbing the neighboring rails, may at any time be easily andexpeditiously removed.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a side elevation of theimproved rail joint; Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view on the linemw, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the several parts, the railsbeing somewhat separated; Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view; and, Fig.5 illustrates a modification.

In said drawing a a designates the meeting ends of two rails of the typecommonly used on steam railroads, each having the head Z), base 0 andvertical web (Z. At suitable intervals the webs cl of the rails a areformed with a longitudinal series of vertical slits e, whereupon thealternating portions f of metal are displaced laterally in one directionand the remaining portions 9 displaced laterally in the other direction.This leaves, extending longitudinally into each rail from its end, ahorizontal housing or bore it, open on each side at intervals. The boresor housings thus formed receive a dowel pin or bolt i whose length issuch that it may be slid back into the bore or housing of one railsufliciently to clear the other rail, whereby to permit the introductionand removal of one rail without disturbing its neighbors. The pin orbolt 2' preferably snugly fits the bore or housing in each rail, theobject of which is to insure against lateral movement of the joinedrails. Since each housing is open at intervals (in the illustration onboth sides) the ends of Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 4, 1913.

Patented Mar. 11, 1913.

Serial No. 74O,170." I I v the pin or bolt are exposed for theapplication of any suitable tool for effecting its longitudinalmovement. The cross sectional shape of the bore or housing and of thebolt is preferably that shown in Figs. 2, 4: and 5, that is, hexagonal;it may either be arranged with two of the angles thereof in the verticalcentral plane of the rail, as shown in Fig. 4, or in a horizontal plane,as shown in Fig. 5.

In order to secure the pin or bolt against working back out of receivedrelation to the rail into which it is entered for the purpose ofinterlocking the rails I prefer to provide said pin or bolt with anextension j which will overlap the web cl of said rail, providing saidrail and the extension with coinciding holes 70 to receive a bolt Zprovided with a cotter-pin m or other device for preventing its workingout of position.

The widths of all the displaced portions f, g are preferably the same,excepting with respect to that at the extreme end of each rail. Each ofthese is made of less width than, say, one-half of that of the others,the object of which is to bring the series of displaced portions f, g,respectively, of the right and left hand rails in Fig. 2, for instance,that much nearer together and hence better adapt them to oppose relativesidewise pressure exerted in the directions of the arrows shown in Fig.2.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is 1'. The combination of the rail-ends tobe joined having parts thereof at intervals lengthwise of the rail-endsdisplaced laterally of the rail ends relatively to the intervening partsand forming housings in the rails and a bolt fitted into and slidablelengthwise in said housings, substantially as described. a

2. The combination of the rail-ends to be joined having parts thereof atintervals lengthwise of the rail-ends displaced laterally of the railends relatively to the intervening parts and forming housings in therails, a bolt fitted into and slidable lengthwise in said housings, andmeans for holding the bolt against longitudinal movement, substantiallyas described.

3. The combination of the rail-ends to be joined having parts thereof atintervals said extension and the part of the rail overlengthwise of therail-ends displaced laterlapped thereby, substantially as described. 10

ally of the rail ends relatively to the inter- In testimony whereof Iaflix my signature vening parts and forming housings in the in presenceof two Witnesses. rails a bolt fitted into and slidable length- GERRITJ. LEUVELINK. Wise in said housings and having an eXten- Witnesses:

sion overlapping a part of one rail, and a M. D. BELL,

removable bolt-securing device penetrating JOHN W. STEWARD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

